It was Conference Championship weekend and the top 2 seeds from each conference faced off for the right to play in World Bowl XX. Memphis and Portland had combined to make 5 of the last 7 World Bowls prior to this season, so it's only fitting they face off to see which team makes it 6 of 8. Memphis lost only 2 games in the regular season, but one was to Portland, so would they be able to get revenge? If so, it would have to be in a low scoring game as Portland has not allowed more than 17 points in any game this season. Memphis was last in World Bowl XVII while Portland is looking to continue an every other year trend, having won World Bowls XVI and XVIII.
In the National Conference we have Washington at New Jersey. No team has made more World Bowl appearances than the Generals with 6, although they've only won 2. New Jersey hasn't been to a World Bowl since 1986. Up to that 1986 season, the Washington Federals had never reached the big game, but since then, they have made it every 3 seasons, losing World Bowls XIV and XVII to the Memphis Showboats.
Storm 32 Showboats 16
Portland got the ball first, driving for a FG and a 3-0 lead. The Storm defense then got the ball right back to the offense, intercepting Norman Maldonado on the first Memphis offensive play. Six plays later, David Smith plowed into the end zone for a quick 10-0 Storm lead. Maldonado brought Memphis back with an 11 play, 74 yard TD drive, with Erik McNamee running the last 3 yards for the score, cutting the lead to 10-7. The rest of the first half was all FGs, with Portland's Alan Grossi making 2 and Memphis' Gary Ridgeway 1 for a 16-10 Portland halftime lead.
Memphis went three and out to start the 3rd qtr and Portland would add a 57 yard Grossi FG for a 19-10 lead. Another Memphis three and out led to another Grossi FG for a 22-10 lead late in the 3rd. Portland would then get another interception of Maldonado, which led to David Smith's 2nd TD of the game, this one a 25 yard pass from Melvin Driggers.
That TD gave Portland a 29-10 lead heading into the 4th qtr, and Memphis faced a 4th and 4 from the Portland 30 early in the final quarter. The Showboats opted for a 49 yard FG try but the kick was wide right, leaving the deficit at 19. Portland took over and Melvin Driggers was driving the Storm to the game clinching TD, when the Showboats defense finally got their first legitimate stop of the game. Up to this point, Portland had scored on every drive except for the short 1 minute drive to run out the end of the first half. This drive ended without points for Portland because Driggers threw an interception at the doorstep of the red zone. Three plays later, Maldonado gave the ball back to Portland, and another Grossi FG increased the lead to 32-10, essentially clinching the game. Memphis would add a late, 79 yard Maldonado to Glenn TD to make the final score closer.
Melvin Driggers finished 24/33, 249 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT with Richard Robinson the leading receiver with 84 yards on 4 catches. RB Jose Moses had 129 combined yards, 78 rushing and 51 receiving on 8 receptions while Timothy Roquemore had 94 combined yards to pace the Storm attack. Portland's defense made life rough for Norman Maldonado, as he completed just 14/33, 204 yards, 1 TD and 4 INT while sacking him twice.
Federals 22 Generals 19 (OT)
New Jersey got the ball first and Don Ferguson led the Generals into FG range after 11 plays, but the usually reliable Al Borland was wide left on the 42 yard attempt. The rest of the 1st quarter was punts and the New Jersey defense created the game's first turnover in the 2nd. Generals LB Reno Raines forced a John Blankenship fumble, which Jeff Hanneman recovered, setting up the offense just inside Washington territory. Ferguson drove New Jersey into the red zone, but an interception by Robert Tejada kept the game scoreless. Washington took over at their own 8, and on 3rd and 10, New Jersey DT Dan Conner burst through the line, sacking Scott Bieber in the end zone for a safety and the game's first score. The Generals would add a 30 yard Borland FG as the half expired, taking a 5-0 lead into the locker room.
Washington got the ball to start the second half and Bieber led the Federals 75 yards in 10 plays, taking a 7-5 lead on a 3 yard Bieber TD pass to Ronald Matthews. That was the first of what would be 5 lead changes in the game, with the 2nd coming on New Jersey's next drive. Al Borland's 51 yard FG gave the Generals an 8-7 lead heading into the 4th quarter and he would add a 26 yard FG early in the 4th for an 11-7 New Jersey lead. Washington would come back with a John Bazile 38 yard FG to pull within 11-10, then following a New Jersey three and out, Bieber found Matthews again, this time for a 76 yard catch and run TD to make the score 16-11. New Jersey would intercept the 2 point try, leaving the score 16-11 Washington. Ferguson would then lead New Jersey on a 7 play, 73 yard TD drive as they finally crack the end zone on a 42 yard Ferguson pass to Cody Schiavo. Kurt Cobain ran in the 2 point conversion to give New Jersey a 19-16 lead with about 4 minutes to play. Each team punted, giving Washington 1:06 to go from their own 20 into FG range to send the game to OT. Scott Bieber was 4/4 on the final drive in regulation and a 50 yard John Bazile FG with 0:03 left did indeed send this game to OT.
New Jersey got the ball first in the overtime period, going three and out. Bieber then completed a 25 yard pass to Andrew Favela to get into Generals territory and 3 plays later, another 50 yard John Bazile FG sent Washington to their 3rd World Bowl in 7 seasons.
Don Ferguson finished 33/47, 291 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT, with Cody Schiavo the leading skill player with 123 yards and a TD on 8 catches. Rookie RB David Koresh ran for 84 yards on 23 carries, adding 31 yards on 5 receptions for 115 combined yards. Scott Bieber was 19/36, 291 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. RB Robert Trammell was held under 100 combined yards (31 rushing, 62 receiving) but Ronald Matthews caught 5 passes for 106 yards and 2 TDs.
